fontanella



March 16 1926.

H. F. FONTANELLA MUSICAL TOY Filed May 18, 1925 INVENTOR W, BY AWATTORNEY WITNE Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES HENRY F. FONTANELLA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MUSICAL TOY.

Application filed May 18, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. Forum- NELLA, a citizen of Italy, residingat New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Musical Toys, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in the type of musical toysknown as a kazoo and its principal object is to provide an instrumentembodying a cylindrical element in which a plurality of vibratorymembers are supported, and which are capable of adjustment so that theycan be operated to produce the desired tone.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter adapted to be actuated by humming a melody into the same andthe tone of which may be regulated by adjusting means which is providedtherefor.

With the preceding and other objects and advantages in view, theinvention consists in the novel construction of elements and arrangementof parts and operations, to be hereinafter specifically referred to,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in theappended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved musical instrument.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a slightlymodified embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail where in corresponding characters ofreference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, thenumeral 5 designates a cylinder provided with an opening 6 at one sideagainst which the mouth of the operator is adapted to be pressed.Removably arranged upon each end of the cylinder 5 is a cap 7 having adepressed central part or cup-shaped member 9 each of which is providedwith a central opening 10.

Disposed in each of the caps 7 is a vibratory diaphragm 11 of tissue,leather or other similar material and which rests against the ends ofthe cylinder 5 and is adapted to be engaged by the cup-shaped members 8upon movement of the same towards the inner ends of the cylinder.

The ends of the caps 7 are rolled upon themselves to provide beads 14;which are Serial No. 31,192.

adapted to be grasped by the operators fingers to slide the caplongitudinally on the cylinder.

Upon holding the cap with greater or less force to engage the cup-shapedmembers with the diaphragms, the latter will be correspondinglytensioned and thereby regulate the sound reproduced by the instrument.

From the disclosure it will be apparent that a person. may operate thedevice by simply pressing his mouth against the opening provided in theside and hum a note between the teeth and by adjusting the caps so thatthe diaphragms vibrate at the same rate to produce the same sound valueas the note hummed, the device is then ready to be played, and with alittle practice the player can give a good imitation of a cello,saxophone, cornet, bugle, etc.

In Figure 3 a modified form of the invention is illustrated, and in thisconnection the ends of the cylinder 5 are provided with exterior screwthreads 15 while the caps are provided with interior screw threads 16which are threaded upon the threaded ends 15. Upon rotation of the capsit will be observed that the cup shaped elements will engage thediaphragms with greater or less force to hold the same at the desiredtension and thereby regulate the sound of the device to correspond tothe voice of the player.

lVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, I desire to have it understood that such changes may be madein the form, construction and arrangement of parts and operations, aswill not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of thesubjoined claim.

Vhat is claimed is A musical toy comprising a cylinder hav ing anopening centrally disposed in one side thereof and adapted to receivethe mouth of the player, cap members movable longitudinally on the endsof the cylinder, diaphragms arranged'within said cap me1nbers andadapted to contact the ends of the cylinder, and inwardly extending cupshaped elements formed on the cap members and formed with openings andadapted to .adjustably engage the diaphragms to hold the same undertension.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY F. FONTANELLA.

